The Emergence of Total War (Civil War Campaigns and Commanders Series)

"The Emergence of Total War" by Daniel E. Sutherland is a short (119 pages text/128 pages total), informative and well written account of the realization by U.S. president Abraham Lincoln during the summer of 1862 that the implementation of a "total war" that targeted the southern states resources and civilian morale as well as Confederate military forces, was an absolute necessity if the Union was to achieve victory in the American Civil War. The book goes on to explain Lincolns selection of General John Pope from the western theater to supercede General George B. McClellan as the top Union military leader in Virginia based not just on Pope's competent service and victories in the West (New Madrid, Island No. 10) but also because of the harsh policies Pope implemented to counter the guerilla warfare his troops encountered in Missouri in 1861-1862. Pope's "total war" measures, their effect on the civilian population of north central Virgina, the reaction of the Confederate government and military leaders to them, and Pope's defeat in the campaign and battle of Second Manassas/Bull Run by Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia are all explained and the rivalry between McClellan/Army of the Potomac and Pope's Army of Virginia and the consequences this had on subsequent events are also touched on.The book has two good area of operations maps, one showing north central Virginia in 1862, the other showing the the positions of Union and Confederate forces along the Rappahannock River on August 22, 1862 that sets the stage for the movements that lead the armies back to the plains of Manassas. These two maps would have been enhanced, especially for casual readers, by the addition of a theater of operations map showing more of Virginia and the eastern theater, including the location of the Confederate capitol at Richmond. Four servicable battle maps help the reader understand the action for the battles of Cedar Mountain (August 9, 1862), Groveton (August 28, 1862) and Second Manassas (August 29/30, 1862) but like all military histories, the book could have used more (especially a map for the battle that ended the campaighn, Chantilly, September 1, 1862). Also included are 26 period photos of people and places relevant to the events detailed in the book. Twenty two of these photos are of civilian/military leaders both North and South and are accompanied by short bios (including "angel of the battlefield" Clara Barton). Two appendices showing the Order of Battle for Cedar Mountain and Second Manassas, as well as a further reading list are also included. Unfortanetely, there are no notes and sources sections.All things considered, a solid and consise introduction to this part of the Civil War.